'Oh, Edith! I'm too happy! Do you quite realise, dear, what it is?… I've been waiting for you for four years. Ever since that night I met you at the Mitchells'. Do you know that before the war, when I came into that money, I was wild with rage. It seemed so wasted on me. I had no use for it then. And when I first met you I used to long for it. I hated being hard up…. The first time I had a gleam of hope was when they told me I'd got over the operation all right. I couldn't believe my life would be spared, for nothing. And now—you won't change your mind again?'
Edith convinced him that she would not. They sat hand in hand, perhaps as near perfect happiness as two human beings can be….
'We shall never be happier than we are now,' said Edith in a low voice.
'Oh, shan't we?' he said. 'Rubbish! Rot! What about our life when I come back again?—every dream realised!'
'And yet your going to risk it,' said Edith.
'Naturally; that's nothing. I shall come back like a bad penny, don't you worry. Edith, say you mean it, again.'
'Say I mean what?'
'Say you love me, you'll marry me. You and the children will belong to me. You won't have any regrets? Swear you won't have any regrets and remorse!'
'I never will. You know, Aylmer, I am like that. Most women know what they want till they've got it, and then they want something else! But when I get what I want I don't regret it.'
'I know, my darling sensible angel!… Edith, to think this might have happened three years ago!'